Electric switch



1944- w. A. GUSSOW EI'AL 2,354,991

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Feb. 6, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l E B J INVENTOR w awzz Aug- 1, 94 w. A. eussow ETAL ELECTRIC SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 6, 1943 Rye INVENTOR %n41z M hinge member 6 and the clamp l.

Patented Aug. 1, 1944 ELECTRIC SWITCH William A. Gussow, Birmingham, and Thomas E. Curtis, Homewood, Ala., assignors to Southem States Equipment Corporation, a corporatlon of Alabama Application February 6, 1943, Serial No. 474,916

13 Claims.

The invention relates to the type of electric switches in which a movable insulator is operated to open or to close the switch, and it includes features that are particularly suitable for use with multiple-pole switches as well as features that are applicable also to single pole units. The purposes are to provide a switch that is effective, simple, easy to assemble under field conditions, and that can be operated with a minimum of effort for overcoming the efiects of gravity.

One type of switch embodying our invention is shown in th drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows in side elevation one single-pole unit of a closed switch embodying this invention, with the switch base mounted vertically; Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 but with the switch open; Fig. 3 indicates a small scale top view of three single pole units interconnected to form a three-pole switch; Fig. 4 is in larger scale a side view of the middle joint of the linkage used; Fig. 5 is a top view of the same linkage joint; Figs. 6 and 7 are side and vertical views in large scale of the pivotal joint; Fig. 8 shows a switch embodying the invention when the switch is mounted with the base horizontal; Fig, 9 shows some parts of the linkage of a switch which is intended for horizontal mounting: and Fig. 10 shows details of a modification which maybe made in the linkage and springs.

As shown, a base i supports two stationary insulators 2, 3 and the base member 4 upon which the pivot 5 supports the insulator-supporting The bolt 8 clamps members 5 and l tightly upon. the long bar 9 which serves as the interconnecting member between the single switch unit and similar adjacent units. This bar may be in the form of a square tube. The crank Ill or other suitable means serves to operate all switch units simultaneously. The hinge member 6 supports the insulator unit ii and its conducting member I2. Insulator 2 carries the conducting member l3 to which is connected the line terminal I4; and insulator 3 carries the conductor I5 to which is connected the other line terminal l6. Projections on 6 and I serve as stops to limit the travel of unit H as they engage 4 and 4", respectively.

The linkage ll, i8 is supported upon the members l2 and I5 by means of the pivots l9 and 20, respectively. The flexible conducting shunt 2| is preferably used to connect electrically members age, and the ends of spring 22 engage with members l1 and 58 as shown.

Assembly of the equipment in the field is preferably accomplished by installing each of the three single pole units in its proper place, and with the contacts fully closed. Meanwhile each bolt 8 is out, and each clamp i is free to move about its pivot 5. Then the long bar 9 is readily placed in position, the clamps l are closed down on bar 9 and bolts 8 hold all members securely in place. The parts are so proportioned that as the bolt 8 is tightened, th pin 5 is stressed in. opposite directions by the extensions on G and on 1 through which pin 5 passes. This results in tightly clamping pin 5 between members 6 and 'l, as well as clamping bar securely to hinge member a.

When mounted vertically as in l and 2' the weight of the insulator unit it and its adjacent members should be counterbalanced for their entire length of travel. In biasing pivots i8 and 20 away from one another the spring 22 acts counter to the weight of the unit H. When in the closed position it is obvious the spring 22 is exerting minimum stress on the members I] and I8; and when in open position of the switch the spring exerts its maximum stress upon members ii! and i8. On the other when in the closed switch position th linkage is nearest to its straight-line position where its toggle efiect is greatest; and correspondingly the toggle effect of the linkage is in its least eilective position when the switch is fully opened. Therefore, the weakest position of the spring coincides with the strongest position of the linkage toggle, and vice versa; and so by proper proportioning of the parts the net biasing effect of spring and toggle corresponds substantially to the force required to counterbalance the weight of the moving parts throughout the full' operating stroke of the switch.

In Figs. 8 and 9 the parts are quite similar but two springs are used to bias the linkage so as to meet properly the different conditions. When mounted as shown in Fig. 8 the insulator unit 24 is on center when in the closed position as shown in full lines and with its center line designated as A. When in the fully open position marked B, the insulator unit is ofi center in the opposite direction. When in the position C the unit is on center and no biasing is needed to offset its weight. When insulated for some of the higher transmission voltages, this movable unit may weigh fifty pounds or more, and when three such units are operated simultaneously as a single three-pole switch it is necessary to counterbalance these weights in order to secure ease of operation.

The linkage 25, 28 has the spring 21 which biases the linkage, and thereby the unit 24, from the position A to position C; and spring 24 biases the unit 24 from position B to position C. From position C to position B there is no stress upon spring 21; and from position C to position A spring 28 is unstressed. The movable insulator unit 24 requires more counterbalancing when it is in position A than when it is nearer to position C, and spring 21 is under its maximum stress when it is in position A. Similarly spring 28 is under maximum stress when in position B; and both springs are under negligible stress when they are in positions C, which is the position when unit 24 requires no counterbalancing. Proper proportioning of the members will therefore give proper counterbalancing 01' unit 24 throughout its full stroke. The use of a linkage to bias the movable insulator unit of a switch is one of the important features of this invention.

One of the many possible modifications is shown in Fig. 10, where the linkage arm 29 is supported by the pin 30 upon the stationary insulator unit 3|. The spring 32 biases the arm 29 from the position shown in dotted lines towards the position shown in full lines. If desired such a spring could be used instead of spring 28 shown in Figs. 8 and 9; or a properly proportioned spring similarly mounted could be substituted for spring 22 in Figs. 1 and 2.

If desired, the hinge member 6 may be modifled to be cemented directly into the porcelain itself, instead of using a standard switch-type insulator unit which is bolted to the hinge member, as now shown. Also, the linkage may be designed to serve as the conductor, thereby omitting the fiexible conductor 2i.

We claim:

1. In an electric switch, in combination, a switch unit including a pivotally mounted operating mechanism therefor, a similar adjacent switch unit, an interconnecting bar connecting the said switch units into a multiple-pole switch; each of the said operating mechanisms comprising a stationary base, a pivot supported thereby, a hinge member supported by the said pivot and rockable about the center of saidpivot to operate the said switch unit, a clamp member pivoted directly upon the said pivot and secured elsewhere to the said hinge member to clamp the said interconnecting bar to the said hinge member.

2. In an electric switch, in combination, a switch unit which includes a pair of separable switch contacts, a pivotally mounted insulator unit rockable about its pivot to open or to close the said switch contacts, another similar switch unit adjacent thereto, an interconnecting bar connecting the said switch units unto a multiplepole switch; each of the said pivotal mountings comprising a stationary base, a pivot supported thereby, a hinge member supported by the said pivot and rockable about the center of said pivot to operate the said switch unit, a clamp hinged directly upon said pivot and secured elsewhere to the said hinge member to clamp the said interconnecting bar against the said hinge member.

3. In an electric switch, in combination, a stationary insulated contact terminal, a movable insulator unit supported by a pivotal mounting and carrying a contact member movable by the said insulator unit into coordinated contact with the said stationary terminal to iorm a switch unit, another similar switch unit adjacent thereto, a movable bar interconnecting the said switch units; each of the said pivotal mountings comprising a stationary base, a pivot supported by said stationary base, a hinge member rockable about the center oi said pivot and supporting the said insulator unit, and also a clamp member pivoted directly upon the said pivot and bolted to the said hinge member to secure the said movable interconnecting bar between the said hinge member and the said clamp member.

4. In an electric switch, in combination, a stationary insulated terminal contact, a movable insulator unit rockable about a pivotal support and carrying a second terminal contact movable into and out 0! engagement with the said stationary contact to form a switch unit, a similar adjacent switch unit, a bar secured to and interconnecting the said movable insulator units to coordinate them into a multiple-pole switch; each of the said pivotal supports comprising a stationary base, a pivot supported thereby, an insulator-supporting hinge member supported by the said pivot and rockable about its center, a clamp hinged directly upon the said pivot and secured elsewhere to the said insulator-supporting hinge member to clamp the interconnecting bar to the said insulatorsupporting hinge member.

5. In an electric switch, a pivotally mounted insulator unit movable bodily to operate the switch, an adjacent stationary insulator unit, a jointed linkage connected between the two said insulator units, together with spring means applied directly to the said linkage to bias it against the weight oi the said movable insulator unit.

6. In combination, in an electric switch, a pivotally mounted insulator unit movable to operate the switch, an adjacent stationary insulator unit, a jointed pair of links pivotally connected both to the movable insulator unit and to the stationary insulator unit, and biasing means applied directly to at least one oi the said links to counteract against the weight of the said movable insulator unit.

7. In combination, in an electric switch, a rockable insulator unit supporting a switch contact movable by the said unit to open or to close the switch, a stationary insulated support, a jointed linkage pivotally supported between the said rockable insulator unit and the said insulated support, together with spring means biasing the said linkage in counter-action against the bias due to the weight of the said rockable unit.

8. In an electric switch, in combination, a stationary insulated terminal contact, a movable insulator unit rockable about a pivotal support and carrying a second terminal contact movable into and out of engagement with the said stationary contact to form a switch unit, a stationary line terminal, a jointed linkage connecting the said second terminal contact and the said stationary line terminal, together with biasing means applied directly to-the said linkage in counter action to the weight of the said movable insulator unit.

9. In combination, in an electric switch, a conducting member supported by a pivotally mounted rockable insulator unit and movable thereby to operate the switch, a stationary insulated conducting member adjacent thereto, a flexible conductor electrically connecting the two said conducting members, a jointed linkage pivotally supported between the two said conducting members and providing means to limit the motion oi the said flexible conductor, together with biasing means applied directly to the said linkage to act counter to the weight of the said rockable insulator unit.

10. In an electric switch, a switch unit comprising a stationary insulated contact member, a pivotal mounting supporting an insulator assembly including a second contact member that is movable thereby into contact with the first said contact member to operate the switch, a similar adjacent switch unit, an interconnecting bar coordinating the two units into a multiple-pole switch, together with means to operate the switch; each of the said pivotal mountings including a stationary base, a pivot supported by the base, an insulator supporting-member mounted on the pivot and movable about its center, a clamping member also mounted directly on the said pivct, means spaced away from the pivot to secure the clamping member to the insulator supporting-member and thereby to hold the interconnecting bar tightly against the insulatorsupporting member, together with an extension on the said clamping member to limit the travel of the said insulator-supporting member.

11. In an electric switch, a pivotally mounted insulator unit movable bodily to operate the switch, an adjacent stationary insulator unit, a linkage pivotally connected at one end to the movable insulator unit and at the other end to the stationary insulator unit and having an intermediate joint between the two end joints, together with spring means applied to the linkage adjacent to its movable end to bias the linkage counter to the weight of the said movable insulator unit.

12. In an electric switch, a pivotally mounted insulator unit movable bodily to operate the switch, an adjacent stationary insulator unit, a linkage pivotally connected at one end to the movable insulator unit and at the other-end to the stationary insulator unit and having an intermediate joint between the two end joints, together with spring means applied directly to the linkage adjacent to its intermediate joint to bias the linkage counter to the weight of the said movable insulator unit.

13. In an electric switch, a pivotally mounted insulator unit movable bodily to operate the switch, an adjacent stationary insulator unit, a linkage pivotally connected at one end to the movable insulator unit and at the other end to the stationary insulator unit and having an intermediate joint between the two end joints, together with spring means applied directly to the linkage adjacent to the stationary insulator unit to bias the linkage counter to the weight of the said movable insulator unit.

WILLIAM A. GUSSOW. THOMAS E. CURTIS. 

